Thursday, 26 February 2009

How I heard about this song: This song is in memoriam of my twin, who absolutely loves to sing this song and rocks at it. She's going to Australia for 2 months next week so I know she'll appreciate this! I first heard this song sometime while I was at university.

Why I like this song: I mostly love this song because I LOVE to sing it. I love the rhythm of it too.

Info on the artist and album:Alannah Myles (she's a Canadian dontcha know) is still around and doing pretty well for herself I should imagine. She recently released an album called...wait for it..."Black Velvet". How original. But I'm sure its good. It has this song on it, possibly an enhanced version?

Monday, 23 February 2009

In my previous post (the one that wasn't Song of the Week...) I wrote the following:

Monday is THE hospital appointment where I find out my results... fibromyalgia? Vitamin D deficiency? Coeliac disease? All will soon be revealed! And I can't wait, although I'm a little nervy about it all. You know, each of those results will change things for me completely one way or the other. Right now I'm in limbo.

I went to see my doctor in London today. Firstly, man was that journey exhausting! It took the majority of the day in travelling and I didn't realise how many stairs there were on the underground and at train stations. All of that for literally a 2 minute appointment!

The results are in, and he told me that... *drum roll* ... I have a vitamin D deficiency. My levels are really really low, and that is what is causing the pain. He said he's seen some people with this issue that can barely walk because of it. So I guess I've caught it quite early! I'm now starting on some Vit D supplements and I'll go back in 6-8 weeks and he said I should be feeling loads better by then. Apparently the deficiency is caused by a bad diet and lack of exposure to the sun. So hubby and I are going to start juicing again and really focus on our fruit/veg intake and reduce our cake/chocolate intake and perhaps manage to book a holiday for Easter? Yes please!!

I am SO happy with that diagnosis. Amazing, praise God! etc etc. It was the diagnosis I was hoping for as it is the one easiest to fix! YAY!!! However, I am NOT happy with my GP. When I first went to see them after the aching began, I was told there was nothing wrong with me and to come back in 4 weeks if it still hurt. Shortly after this, I saw this article on the BBC News website and so went back to my GP to ask them to check my vitamin D levels. She practically refused to do the blood test, saying that last time I was tested she checked for something (I can't remember what she said) and that if I had low vit D it would have shown in that result. When I spoke to my rheumatologist in London about that, he said "that's a load of bollocks" (his actual words!!). My GP then proceeded to tell me that the aches were hormonal, and to take Evening Primrose Oil and just get on with it. (!!!) I went down the whole fibromyalgia route thinking it was what I had because I didn't know any better. The symptoms fit, and no one could seem to find anything wrong with me, until now!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to see one of the top rheumatologists in the country, and I will spread the word to people on the fibro-forum I used to visit just on the off-chance that someone might have the same experience as me.

Saturday, 21 February 2009

How I heard about this video: This time its less about the song and more about the video. Of course its an awesome song, and I've been listening to Lifehouse for a very long time. But eventually, this video started doing the rounds on Facebook and it touched my heart so much that I want every one to see it.

Why I like this video: Because this one video sums up my life so far. It makes me cry every time.

Info on the artist and album: The song is by Lifehouse, and I have NO idea what album its on, I can't find it!

Friday, 20 February 2009

I need to post my "Song of the Week" but I can't bear to do it right above the last Song of the Week, so I guess I better post something! (Plus Twinny told me to, and what she says goes I guess!)

This has been a very strange week for me. I started the week feeling pretty good actually, healthwise. Which is a rare but wonderful occurrence. So I managed to make it into work and get lots done, come home and make dinner, do the ironing, watch some TV with hubby etc etc. I was a bit of a whirlwind.

Now? Not so much. I'm off work again. It seems I have made the same age old mistake of doing too much on my good days. I guess I ran out of spoons.

However, putting a brave/positive face on! Monday is THE hospital appointment where I find out my results... fibromyalgia? Vitamin D deficiency? Coeliac disease? All will soon be revealed! And I can't wait, although I'm a little nervy about it all. You know, each of those results will change things for me completely one way or the other. Right now I'm in limbo.

In other news, I had my haircut. Wow, what a girly blog this is turning out to be. Health and haircuts. The excitement! This was a big step for me though because I got brave and said to my hairstylist, "I need something DIFFERENT". So she cut me in a fringe (bangs), as its THE hairstyle for 2009 don't ya know? I have had SO many compliments from people at work about it. Even people I barely know are walking past and saying "have you had your hair done? It looks great! You look younger!" Which is a great thing, and great for the confidence levels. Maybe thats why I've been doing well this week? Hm, who knows.

In other other news, the weekend with my twin has been and gone. It feels like SO long ago, and I do miss her. She's flying off to Oz in a couple of weeks and I'm going to miss her...despite her being so far away already! Haha. The weekend ROCKED. Unfortunately I was not as well as I would have liked to be but we managed a shopping trip, and quick visit to the freezing cold beach, a trip to the zoo and cake decorating. Amongst other things like watching Stardust, one of my favourite movies. So to end this random mish-mash of a post...behold the TIGERS from the zoo.

Saturday, 14 February 2009

How I heard about this song: I was watching music TV at my sisters house in Rotterdam, Holland and heard this and instantly loved it.

Why I like this song: Its just such a beautiful love song, about how love just keeps getting stronger. I love the acoustic guitarness feel of it too.

Info on the artist and album:Racoon are a dutch band who you are unlikely to have heard of unless you listen to European MTV or something like that. Maybe they'll find their way to the UK and the US someday? This song comes from the album "Another Day".

Monday, 9 February 2009

I've been feeling very low today. About both my job and my health. Mostly about my job to be honest, but I wanted to talk about my health.

I've been ill most of the time since I was 12 years old, and so it is inevitable that at 24 years old I'm starting to get a little weary of it. Understatement of the year. I'm desperate to be well again, and sometimes I get a little frustrated at God over the whole thing. I KNOW he can heal me, but I just don't know why he hasn't yet. Maybe I'm to learn something from this whole experience. I think part of it is to learn how to put my trust and get my strength from Him rather than try and find it in myself. Because I certainly don't have it! I was thinking about it in the car on the way home from work whilst listening to "This is Our God" by Hillsong. The following song came on, and it really encouraged me.

I believe You're my HealerI believe You are all I needI believe You're my PortionI believe You're more than enough for meJesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for YouNothing is impossible for YouNothing is impossible for YouYou hold my world in Your hands

The line "you hold my world in Your hands" really reminded me that I have nothing to fear in life, and that God will use me and work in me even though my body is suffering. I need to trust Him fully, rather than just half-attempt to trust Him!

Another song on this album, which is my absolute favourite (sung by Brooke Fraser, see Song of the Week a couple of weeks ago!) is "Desert Song".

This is my prayer in the desertWhen all that's within me feels dryThis is my prayer in my hunger and needMy God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fireIn weakness or trial or painThere is a faith proved of more worth than goldSo refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praiseNo weapon formed against me shall remainI will rejoice, I will declareGod is my victory and He is here

NO weapon formed against me shall remain. Nothing to fear. Isn't that a great thing! I'm so thankful for being brought into the place I am in now, and I really want to grow in Him and learn so much more.

Friday, 6 February 2009

How I heard about this song: Wow I can't even remember how I found out about this song but I remember it was at university and I used to sing it at the top of my lungs in my bedroom. I'm sure it would drive my housemates mad. Now, instead, I sing along to it on Singstar with my twinny and we ROCK it.

Why I like this song: Because it ROCKS! Is that a good enough reason? I think so! There's just so much power behind it, and its soooo 80s it's fabulous!

Info on the artist and album: Heart aren't around anymore. But I bet you can find this on any Rock Ballads album there is!

Monday, 2 February 2009

Isn't it amazing how the UK sees a scrap of snow and EVERYONE is excited about it and the country comes to a standstill? OK mostly England, Wales & Ireland, the Scots have pretty much got it down. All the schools in my area have shut, people haven't made it into work (myself included) and the silly rubbish men haven't come to collect my rubbish. How dare they! Yet in countries such as Canada, for a good example, they deal with this kind of thing x1000 and they seem to manage alright! I mean come on, our roads weren't even gritted. They KNEW this cold front would be coming in from Russia yet we still weren't prepared for it. In London, ALL the buses were stopped this morning. Thats something like 8000 buses. Yeah, seriously. There were also disruptions on the London Underground.......hello?? Its under.ground. ?!?!

Still, it looks pretty and everything, and means I didn't have to go to work this morning, even though I still have to work from home. It literally hasn't stopped snowing all day. That is so unusual for here. I made the above video out of boredom and just as a reminder I guess? See if you can spot my new car (the black one) and the crazy snowman my neighbours just made.

About This Bloggerer

I am Jules. 25 years on this earth, married to a wonderful man, and trying to figure this life out. I've been documenting aspects of my life on the world wide web since 2000, but have recently transferred alliegance from Livejournal to Blogger. I can't help it, its just prettier! I decided to not let my blog become a vent for life-complaints. That's dull, and fairly selfish as my quality of life is far higher than that of millions of people in this world. Therefore I just use this blog as a creative outlet, sometimes talking about personal life events, sometimes just musing. I also post a "Song of the Moment" because music is one of my life passions. I also have a singing blog along with my twin (Twins That Sing), which we hope to continue way into the future.